ALA Booklist (Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Jack knows the seeds from the mysterious flea market vendor weren't worth the keys to his mom's car, but his younger sister, Maddy, who's autistic and rarely speaks, is uncharacteristically insistent they take them. Their beleaguered mom isn't happy, but she's too busy working two jobs for the summer to pay much attention, and anyway, Maddy seems enlivened by their new backyard garden. But it's just as well she hasn't looked too close, since those blooming plants are . . . odd. Hatke's aptitude for fantastic creatures is marvelously on display in the magical plants, which straddle the line between botanicals and beasts. They loom large in the margins of scenes, allowing the action to focus on Jack, Maddy, and their neighbor Lily, who spend their summer playfully battling their crops. Meanwhile, the plants seem to be getting stronger, and Jack starts to worry, perhaps too much, about his sister. With expert visual storytelling, an empowering team of kid adventurers, and a tantalizing cliff-hanger, this series starter will easily please Hatke's legion of followers.

Horn Book

jh

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

In Hatke-s reworking of -Jack and the Beanstalk,- Jack must care for his younger sister, Maddy, while his single mother holds down two jobs over the summer. Maddy doesn-t speak, but she-s entranced by the magic seeds she and Jack pick up from a shady dealer at a flea market, in exchange for their mother-s car keys. Once they plant them, their home-schooled, sword-wielding neighbor Lilly is curious about their new garden, too-a little too curious. Hatke (Little Robot) revels in drawing the fantasy plants: green hands that reach out and grab, tiny onion-headed creatures, melons with teeth. Jack and Lilly argue about how to handle them: -These plants are dangerous!- he protests. -Open your eyes, Jack,- Lilly retorts. -Just because something-s dangerous doesn-t make it evil.- There-s action and menace aplenty, including a dragon whose ferocity only Maddy can quell, and flashes of intimacy, too, as when Jack-s mother-s anger melts into compassion as she sees her son in tears, or when Maddy suddenly speaks. Jack-s desperate efforts to juggle the needs of three complex female characters drive this sensitive retelling. The cliffhanger ending promises a sequel. Ages 10-14. Agent: Judith Hansen, Hansen Literary. (Sept.)-

School Library Journal (Thu Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2016)

Gr 4-7 Hatke, the author of Julia's House for Lost Creatures and the popular "Zita the Spacegirl" series, returns to the land of heroes with a modern-day reimagining of "Jack and the Beanstalk." Jack is the oldest child of a divorced single mom doing her best to keep the family fed. On a trip to the flea market, Jack's sister, Maddy, who is autistic and never speaks, convinces Jack to swap the family car for a packet of seeds. Adventure soon follows, and Jack finds himself planting a garden that produces a variety of strange and bizarre creatures, meeting the neighbor girl, dealing with his sister, and even encountering a dragon. Hatke deftly weaves in real-world issues as well, such as mother-son relationships, special-needs siblings, and divorced homes. He is in brilliant form here, balancing appropriate dialogue with vibrant, visually engaging images that move the narrative along. Those who enjoy this series starter will want to look out for Jack's future escapades. VERDICT This title will do well with graphic novel readers, fairy-tale fans, struggling readers, and anyone who enjoys good storytelling. John Trischitti, Midland County Public Libraries, TX